New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday questioned why Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stayed silent on ‘Kavach’, an anti-collision device during their meeting on Saturday.

“When yesterday he (Railways minister) was present with me and I mentioned about anti-collision device, why didn’t he open his mouth? ‘Dal mein kuch kaala hai’, we want the truth to come out,” said the Chief Minister.

#WATCH | When yesterday he (Railways minister) was present with me and I mentioned about anti-collision device, why didn't he open his mouth? 'Dal mein kuch kaala hai', we want the truth to come out: WB CM Mamata Banerjee pic.twitter.com/plewf30fK6

— ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2023

---Advertisement---

The two leaders met on Saturday to inspect the accident site in Odisha where three trains collided and resulting in hundreds of deaths, while thousands were injured. In the collision, one of the trains was coming from Shalimar station in West Bengal while, another train was yet to reach Howrah in the state.

Kavach is India’s indeginious Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system that was not available at the route where the accident took place.

Earlier in the day, the union minister said the accident took place due to change in electronic interlocking and said that all the facts will be cleared once the Commissioner Rail safety will submit the report.

Considering the severity of the case, the Railway Board recommended CBI probe related to the Odisha Train Accident, announced the Railways Minister. 

Odisha Train Accident: How did it happen?

The collision of three trains namely: Coromandel Express, Howrah Superfast Express and a goods train already parked at the Bahanaga Bazar station, is the India’s fifth deadliest accidents in its history, stated BBC.

There are no confirmation yet on which train derailed first but Railways Spokesperson Amitabh Sharma said that it was the Coromandel Express that was coming from Shalimar railway station in West Bengal, which lost control at first place.

The train hit the stationary goods train at the station. As per the media reports, the collosion affected the Howrah Superfast Express too that was passing by at the time of the accident.